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We take pride in writing directly from our hearts about all things mental health, emotional wellbeing, and even random philosophical thoughts that come our way. A major part of our organization is to advocate for better mental health care and educate children about mental health and mental illnesses. As a result, writing about our own personal experiences and mental-health related issues is one of the most crucial ways we fulfill the goals of advocacy and education.

Our Causes

H2T x TCNJ MannMukti: ‘Spill the Chai’

On Thursday, April 6th, Happy2Thrive and TCNJ MannMukti hosted their first ever Spill the Chai event at The College of New Jersey.

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Informative

Reflecting on TAL’s World Kindness Day 2022

Touch A Life’s Annual World Kindness Day took place on November 19th, 2022 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. The event involved 2000+ global participants, 100+ world class leaders, 30 panel members, and 8+ hours of keynote speakers. 

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Narratives

The Role of Schools in a Child’s Mental Health

I have been shooed away from nitty-gritty details all my life and advised that I needed to ponder on something only if it was of significance. People are more scared of these thoughts than COVID-19. I kid you not.

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Narratives

Did The Olden Times Do It Better?

While it’s amazing to witness the wonders the human species is able to create, the growing conveniences as a result of this progress shifts the minds of the human population from togetherness to oneself.

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Mental Health

#ReleaseThePressure by Mirinda

A few years ago I watched Mirinda’s #ReleaseThePressure campaign video and found myself sobbing on my bathroom floor because of how real and authentic it was. Mirinda was often depicted as a quirky brand and appealed to the younger people because which kid doesn’t love a good fizzy drink?

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Narratives

Boundaries for Your Mental Health

Boundaries are crucial for your mental health. Everyone needs to set boundaries as they are for one's own well being.

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Uncategorized

Is the World Inherently Fatphobic?

A recent discussion with a friend led me into a spiral of thoughts about how the world perceives the idea of being “fat”. While some are explicit about their fatphobia, others display subtle fatphobic behavior in their daily habits. What I personally find most concerning is how deeply-rooted this issue of fatphobia is and how it is becoming normalized in our society.

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Narratives

A Colored Person’s Invisible Insecurity

There’s a familiar lump in my throat and weird squiggles in my stomach as I am writing this post. The content in this post has been largely unspoken about or said to any of my friends or family.

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Mental Health

Benefit of the Doubt

I want to talk about a small change that I’ve made recently. This change has been liberating and has helped me stay in control of my mind. This change is called giving the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure we have all heard of this concept in the context of maintaining good relationships with people […]

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Narratives

The Desire to be a Good Person

You don’t have to be THAT good of a person; No one is that good or perfect. Rather, it is more important that you find your inner peace and build a lifestyle based on your needs. It's critical that you don't forget that we are human and have natural tendencies.

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Our Causes

You are okay. 

You are okay. You are overwhelmed, but you are okay. Rigid routines are just as anxiety-provoking as not having any routine at all. Striking a balance between the two is essential. Remember to remind yourself every so often: everything is temporary and you are okay.

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Narratives

Letting Go of Routine

As life gets hectic, people often lose sight of their goals and get caught up in the process. There should be a shift in mindset to focus on the purpose rather than getting tangled in the steps to get there. This is why we need to free ourselves and envision our greatest vision for ourselves.

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Narratives

Being “Man” Enough

It took me a couple of years to dissect the phrase “be a man” despite it always being subtly thrown around at my brother or at some other man in my life. Now that I have understood the true message behind this phrase, I realize that it is complete bullshit. Being and feeling “enough” should […]

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Narratives

End of the Year Reminders

Whether you’re in school, college, or a part of the workforce, it is likely that a majority of us are currently at the peak of our stress and busyness as we near the end of this year. As we enter the holiday season, take a moment to commend yourself and all those around you for their hard work and...

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Uncategorized

Falling Off Track in College

Back home I was super disciplined and lowkey had my life figured out. My mornings were something that I took immense pleasure in because they were structured and gave me clarity. I enjoyed waking up to the loud chirping of the birds and the beam of sunlight on my forehead that escaped between the curtains. […]

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Narratives

Malls and their Fitting Rooms

Imagine finding a stunning dress at the mall. You expected it to look one way, but it turned out to look completely different. For as long as I can remember, malls often triggered my negative self-body image. Bodies are extraordinary and it doesn’t matter how skinny we are. In order to feel more comfortable in a fitting room, I first need to be comfortable being who I am within my own skin.

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Narratives

Victim of “Not Normal”

The definition of normal is “the usual, typical average state” – but that is what we as a society have defined normal as. After my experiences so far, I have learned nothing is ever really “normal”. I believe there are norms in this society that we have created but they are for a community as […]

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Narratives

Reflecting on My First Week of College

It’s been nearly a week since college started, which means it’s been a week since I left home and moved into my own apartment. I wanted to take the time to be vulnerable and share some of the ups and downs that I’ve had this week as a result of this change. 

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Uncategorized

Be “Agile”

My father works as a software developer at a large financial firm, and when his team was told to adapt to the new agile process, they were forced to constantly improve the produced results rather than waiting to create the perfect piece. Similiarly, I feel overwhelmed by the simplest of tasks because I worry about the end result. This discussion was truly such an eye-opener for a perfectionist like me who often finds herself frustrated at the thought of starting something new if it doesn’t feel “perfect”.

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Narratives

Chewing Gum and Anxiety

Chewing gum is my go-to method for ensuring my anxiety does not spiral out of control. It’s crucial to clarify that gum does NOT cure anxiety - it simply provides temporary relief.

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Narratives

Why I Take Cold Showers

After normalizing cold showers in my daily routine, there have been impeccable changes in myself that I wouldn’t want any other way. Despite the inconvenience of the temperature of the water, committing to endure it helped me develop a newfound discipline which I was able to apply to other aspects of my life. You may feel immediate results or you may experience it after implementing this as a habit, but whatever is the case, I hope you consider giving it a try!

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Narratives

Why the Physician Mental Health Questionnaire is Ineffective for Adolescents

Be it for a sick visit or an annual check-up, my doctor’s office always has me fill out a “Mental Health Questionnaire.” This questionnaire has been a recent requirement, which I appreciate as it shows that mental health is becoming more of a priority in medicine. However, I feel that there are a few drawbacks to this that defeat the whole purpose of having pediatric patients fill this questionnaire out.

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Narratives

Fight with COVID: One young man’s story

The situation has been so dire that the invasion has created shortages of wood for the pyres in the crematoriums. Usually, in these times, humanity is often lost, but it has been proved that we will get love and compassion from everywhere during these tough times. But just to think, this whole situation could have been avoided with prompt measures; that is the thought that hurts the most.

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Narratives

The Reality Behind School

While we often resent schools for their excessive amounts of work, we tend to forget the mental issues they can contribute to. It is not only one of the biggest contributors to mental health decline but also continues to be a toxic environment for students. Alongside the workload, the pressure faced to always be perfect, become a class topper, keep up with the latest trends, and maintain perfect relationships with the people around you. This all can become a heaping pile and a lot to process for students.

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Narratives

“Me Month” Reflections

One month ago today, after much consideration, I decided it was the perfect day to commence this long-awaited self-journey that I wanted to try - “Me Month”. “Me Month” is a personal journey about deep introspection and resetting the mind. Over the past few months, I felt as though I was losing grasp of the relationship that I had with myself. I hope that this experience encourages you to try abstinence in some capacity with either the necessities of life or with other luxuries taken for granted because the results are immaculate and will be something you continue to carry on as you venture through life.

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Narratives

Sleep is a Waste of Time

Since when has our productivity become linked with our physical and mental health? Society continues to teach the growing generation that hard work trumps everything. But on whose standards has that person fallen behind?

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Narratives

The One Book That Has Changed My Life

I never understood how reading words can truly change a person’s life in the same way that a film could. I’m glad that I finally understood that this is indeed possible – books can impact us in the most profound way and Untamed is one of those books.

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Narratives

Are You Dependent on Makeup?

I am an amateur makeup artist. To me makeup is art, like painting a canvas. But I would like to ask you one question, would you be comfortable walking out right at this moment without your eyeliner?

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Narratives

DBT Therapy and How it Helped!

I hit high school and everything just went upside down. Just one day not feeling like getting out of bed to having intrusive thoughts. Everything has different levels of severity, and at first I didn't realize how bad they were till I was actually following through with it. When I finally got to see a therapist I knew what I did before with the therapist was not going to work out. I went from therapist to another and another. I was not able to find the right approach.

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Narratives

The Truth Behind Instagram Anxiety

For many, clicking that blue “Share” button on Instagram causes an increased heart rate, sweaty underarms, toxic thoughts, and a sore thumb from hovering over the button for too long. Putting this into writing sounds utterly stupid, but in the moment, posting on Instagram is a terrifying experience.

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Mental Health

How to Accept Your Emotions

We all have those days when nothing seems wrong, but nothing seems right either. We all have those days when the world seems like it’s going against us. It is common to feel like you are lost in an impossible, never ending cycle of struggle, uncertainty, and discomfort.

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Narratives

Interviewing Our CoFounder (Part 2)

Sanjana Chekuri was the interviewer and Esha Kode was the interviewee.

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Narratives

Interviewing Our CoFounder (Part 1)

Esha Kode was the interviewer and Sanjana Chekuri was the interviewee.

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Informative

Why We Feel Envious

Envy is a whole other emotion- a more corrosive emotion. According to Mel Robbins, there’s a fine line between jealousy and envy. She says that “envy is when you not only want what the other person has, but there’s a part of you that feels they don’t deserve it.”

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Narratives

Calling All Failures!

In his speech he asks, “How many ghosts are gonna be around your bed when your time comes?” For many of us, our answer to that question is a lot. We have so many dreams that we want to fulfil, but we never set goals to get them done. As a result, “dreams without goals, will remain as dreams.”

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Informative

Thanksgiving 2020

This Thanksgiving, I urge you to take a few moments and consider what is one thing that keeps you thriving on a daily basis. It could be as simple or as complex as you wish, but take a few moments to allow yourself to feel this state of euphoria as you reflect on what you are truly grateful for. Once you have reignited that feeling, take a few moments to connect with it and I assure you that this year will embody a blissful Thanksgiving 2020.

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Informative

How Bullet Journaling Changed My Life

I am the type of person who lets all my worries, thoughts, and tasks take prime real estate in the forefront of my mind. As a result, I procrastinate because I spend so much time thinking and figuring out ways to avoid thinking which leads to Netflix binges, stress eating, and overall, more procrastination.

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Our Causes

Reflecting on our First Charitable Event

The Happy2Thrive team donated free meals for the healthcare workers of Penn Medicine Princeton Health in Plainsboro, NJ. The team was able to fundraise nearly $1,500 over the course of 2 months through a series of successful and engaging virtual events.

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Narratives

Every Paper Has Different Thickness

As an egoistic early adolescent, I tried to convince my father about how I was absolutely right that it’s “so stupid” for someone to cry over something like that. I would occasionally glance over at my father, awaiting looks of validation that I was right, but unfortunately I never got that satisfaction; my dad remained silent as I continued ranting. After finishing my spiel several minutes later, I gave my father a long glare, trying to subliminally convey my anticipation for his response.

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Narratives

Dear Parents

Don’t have kids if you’re not ready to value, enrich, trust, and protect them (especially from yourselves). Let me explain.

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Informative

Reroute Your Habits

Waking up at noon, eating some food, spending time on social media, napping again, scrolling more on social media, dinner time, and finally binging on late-night snacks & Netflix until the crack of dawn. Then you sleep, wake up, and repeat. You set some goals for the day, but somehow time flies and before you know it, the day is over with all these unfinished impending tasks. Does that sound any bit familiar to you?

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Narratives

Crying Is My Therapy

My hideout in my house is on my cold, hard, and speckled with hair bathroom floor. When both my parents and my brother go off to sleep, I would tip toe into my bathroom, lock the door, and arrange myself on the beat-up mat.

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Narratives

Finding YOUR Therapist

Almost a year ago, I had asked my dad if I could see a therapist. He was skeptical at first and tried to question me as to why I asked for such a thing, as any concerned parent would ask. After a thirty-minute straightforward conversation about my need for a therapist, he agreed.

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Mental Health

Mental Health Care in Nursing Homes

There are 15,600 nursing homes in the U.S. This means that all 15,600 of these nursing homes are able to provide 24/7 care for the residents.

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Mental Health

The Power of Manifestation

Manifestation is real folks. I would tell you how Merriam-Webster defined manifestation, but I really did not like their version. However, I totally agree with Kelsey Aida’s definition: “to me a manifestation (noun) is something you bring forth into your physical life experience through past thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. This could be an experience, an object, a person... anything!” Beautifully said!

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Narratives

“She would’ve killed herself…”

I knew many of the patients here were battling some mental illness, and most were suicidal; however, I did not truly understand the extent of what these individuals were going through until after witnessing this event.

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Mental Health

The Land of The Free?

While we celebrate the freedom and equality this day brought for American advancements, we tend to surpass the significance of today. The 4th of July isn’t just a day to celebrate how far our country’s advancements went with fireworks and parties, but to stand in unison and continue to improve everything it represents: a liberal and independent environment for all kinds of people to thrive in.

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Mental Health

COVID-19 Quarantine Ideas

With the way things have drastically changed in the past few months, quarantine has become our new normal. After speaking to many people about their quarantine experience, I identified a common trend: the lack of structure people used to have in their lives.

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Narratives

Life Lesson From a Maid

That day, I watched families beam with joy for the smallest things in life. I watched parents work to their limit to care for their families. I watched children treat education like it was a piece of valuable treasure as they hoped to one day bring their families out of poverty.

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Mental Health

Sushant, This One Is For You!

2020 has been filled with a great amount of loss, defeat, and fear. It has been even more difficult for those suffering from a mental illness. Sushant Singh Rajput, a Bollywood actor, died today as a result of suicide. It was said that he was battling depression for around 6 months.

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Narratives

Unity

My alarm continuously beeps until I am brought into my senses. As I slowly move my arm to switch off the alarm, I begin to feel the throbbing soreness across my body from the excessive dance classes all weekend long. I contemplate shutting my eyes and sleeping again but the curiosity for what the day holds energizes me.

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Informative

Indians for #BLM

I am an Indian woman. This means I have 2 significant hurdles to jump in today’s world if I want to achieve every single one of my aspirations- one is being a woman and the other is my skin color.

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Blog

NEW WEBSITE ONLINE!

Hello! Welcome to Happy2Thrive’s very first blog post! We are thrilled to have you all join our journey. We’d be ecstatic if we positively impact even one of you!

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